37

E.—l

SPECIAL SCHOOLS. Afplicted and Dependent Children. (See also E.-4.) The number of children brought under the operation of the Industrial Schools Act in 1914 was 405, being seventy-seven more than for the preceding year. The number whose names were written off the books was 295, leaving a total roll number of 3,018. Of these, 1,821 were boys and 1,197 girls. The classification of the children was as follows : — Boarded out — From Government industrial schools .. .. .. ..1,051 From private industrial schools .. .. .. .. .. 5 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,056 ■ In residence— Tn Government industrial schools (other than reformatories) .. .. 455 At private (Roman Catholic) industrial schools .. .. .. 296 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 751 At reformatories (boys) .. .. .. .. .. .. 170 (girls) 76 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 246 In situations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 521 With friends on probation .. .. .. .. .. .. 247 Under private guardianship .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 Committed, but on probation. , .. .. .. .. .. 14 In hospitals, private institutions, absent without leave, in prison, &c. .. 137 In the total number on the books are included nineteen young women and three young men who are more than twenty-one years of age ; and control of them is maintained under the law that provides for detention beyond that age of any young person who a Magistrate is satisfied is morally degenerate or otherwise in the public interest unfitted to be free from guidance. These cases will be reviewed every four years, and by like procedure detention may be indefinitely prolonged. <► The power of placing out applies as though the inmate were under twenty-one. At each hearing counsel is provided at Government expense for the person concerned. By similar provisions in the Education Act young people of feeble mind may be detained under the guidance of special schools. In this way lifelong control will be retained in case of necessity, and thus the public interest and that of young people who, without support, must surely fail signally in life are effectively safeguarded. The number of children maintained at the public cost was 2,055. The parental contributions under orders of Court, agreements, &c, amounted to £7,583, being at the rate of £3 13s. 9d. per head of those maintained. This is a decrease of lis. Bd. per head over the rate for the preceding year. The net expenditure for the last financial year on account of industrial-school children, exclusive of capital charges for additional buildings, works, and purchase of property (£44,676), shows an increase of £3,673, which is mainly accounted for by the fact that 210 more children were maintained. Tables 11 and 12 of E.-4 give particulars of the expenditure during the year. Last Financial Preceding Year. Year. Payments by Charitable Aid Boards fof maintenance of children who came into Government schools owing to indigence (included in the total sum recovered) .. £11,383 £11,290 Number of children at the end of the year belonging to Government schools who were so paid for .. .. 769 759 Number maintained at the expense of Charitable Aid Boards at private industrial schools .. .. .. 164 138